Vida De PhD

In this episode of Vida de PhD, Dr. Chelsea Williams joins Lorena to share her journey from first-generation college student to tenured associate professor—and the role community has played every step of the way.

Chelsea takes us behind the scenes of building and managing a thriving research lab of more than 30 students. Lorena asks Chelsea about the “why” behind her work and the intentional process she uses to create a scholarly community where students feel supported, connected, and inspired to develop their own ideas.

Tune in to learn how to build a strong community, develop an exciting research agenda, and create a career rooted in purpose and connection. Dr. Williams has a truly special gift for bringing people together—and you will feel it throughout this conversation.

En amor y poder,

Lorena

This solo episode is a raw and honest life update from Dr. Aceves. She shares the exciting news about her new role and reflects on the journey from being laid off to landing an amazing new opportunity.

Like grief, adjusting to a major life change is rarely a linear process. We are human beings, and life-changing moments can bring emotional complexities that often go unspoken—even when the change is positive. Dr. Aceves opens up about these complexities and shares the raw and real parts of navigating uncertainty, transition, and new beginnings.

If you have been laid off, are currently on the job market, or are adjusting to a major life transition, this episode is for you. And if you simply want to catch up on all things Dr. Aceves and Vida de PhD, this episode is for you, too!

En amor y poder,

Lorena

In this episode of Vida de PhD, host Dr. Aceves sits down with Dr. Linda Halgunseth to discuss her journey to the PhD.

Together, they reflect on how the path to a PhD — and the career that follows — is rarely linear. Through her story, Linda reminds us that it’s okay to make the “wrong” choice because, as she beautifully shares, “life is forgiving.” Her journey shows that even when we feel off course, life has a way of guiding us back to where we are meant to be.

This episode is a powerful reflection on the importance of trusting yourself, listening to your intuition, and honoring your inner voice. Your inner voice is powerful.

En amor y poder,
Lorena

This episode is part of the Navigating Uncertainty with Certainty series on Vida de PhD.

In this conversation, Lorena and Elia reflect on navigating today’s job market. They share important realities to consider with today's job market. And how to keep the faith as you figure what is to come next with your career.

En amor y poder,
Lorena

In this episode of Vida de PhD, host Dr. Aceves sits down with Dr. Lupe Diaz Lara to reflect on her journey into and through her PhD. Lupe shares how she discovered research along the way—navigating aspects of doctoral training she hadn’t fully understood at the start, including milestones like comprehensive exams.

Together, they discuss the critical role of mentorship, especially the impact of having an ally and advocate in your corner. A special shoutout to Dr. Alcalá, whose mentorship has been instrumental in shaping Lupe’s path and modeling what it means to lead with intention and care.

This episode is a powerful reflection on perseverance, growth, and the importance of not giving up.

En amor y poder,
Lorena

This episode is part of the Navigating Uncertainty with Certainty series on Vida de PhD.

In this conversation, Lorena and Deziah reflect on the highs and lows of navigating today’s job market. They share practical strategies, honest insights, and lessons learned from their own journeys.

Whether you’re in the thick of it or trying to find your next step, this episode offers concrete tools and grounded encouragement to help you keep moving forward.

En amor y poder,
Lorena

In this episode of Vida de PhD, host Lorena Aceves sits down with Lucia Alcala to reflect on their shared Mexican backgrounds and the experiences that shaped their academic journeys. Lucia shares her path into graduate school, the challenges and opportunities she encountered along the way, and the people who helped guide her through pivotal moments in her career.

Together, they discuss the importance of mentorship in academia—especially for scholars from historically underrepresented communities—and how strong mentors can open doors, provide guidance, and help scholars navigate spaces that were not always designed with them in mind. The conversation also highlights the value of community, representation, and the ways cultural identity influences both personal and professional paths.

This episode is a thoughtful reflection on perseverance, mentorship, and the power of having people who believe in you along the journey to and through the PhD.

En amor y poder,

Lorena

This episode is part of the Navigating Uncertainty with Certainty series of Vida de PhD.

In this conversation, Lorena & Vanessa sit with uncertainty and explore what it really means to navigate life, career, and identity when the next step isn’t fully mapped out. Through personal reflection and thoughtful dialogue, this episode invites listeners to slow down, name the questions they’re carrying, and recognize that uncertainty isn’t a weakness—it’s often a sign of growth.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt caught between where they’ve been and where they’re going next. Whether you’re in academia, transitioning out, or redefining success on your own terms, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and a reminder that you are not alone in the unknown.

En amor y poder,

Lorena

In this episode of Vida de PhD, Lorena sits down with Dr. Ximena Franco-Jenkins to unpack a journey that proves academic paths don’t have to be linear to be powerful.

From aspiring flight attendant and future law student to developmental psychologist and systems-level research leader, Ximena shares how her lived experience as an immigrant, bilingual Latina shaped her commitment to children, families, and multilingual learners. She opens up about discovering research through hands-on clinical work, navigating graduate school as a parent of two (yes—she defended her thesis and dissertation while raising toddlers!), and choosing a research center path over the traditional tenure track.

They also discuss what it really means to be grant-funded, why implementation science focuses on the how (not just the what), and the critical role of mentorship and community in sustaining a meaningful career.

Ximena leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: give yourself permission to belong. Your lived experience is expertise—and building community is how we create lasting impact.

En amor y poder,

Lorena

This episode marks the beginning of a new era of Vida de PhD.

The show will continue to feature interviews with incredible scholars navigating both academic and non-academic paths, while also shining a light on the journey into the unknown that so many of us are currently walking. These conversations will be part of a series titled “The Journey of [Guest Name].”

This season also introduces a new series, “Navigating Uncertainty with Certainty,” featuring fireside-style conversations with guests who are joining me in sharing their wisdom, reflections, and lessons learned along the way. In addition, there will be solo episodes—like this one—where I speak candidly about the raw realities of reinventing myself and my career after being unexpectedly laid off.  

When guests join me, they’ll share their insights alongside what I continue to learn as I move through this season of change. So buckle up and walk this journey with me. This episode is just the beginning. I can’t wait to look back on this moment and know—like everything else—that it was exactly as it needed to be.

En amor y poder,

Lorena

PS- I’m also excited to share The Aceves Approach (which I share in the episode) — my coaching, professional development, and research consulting services designed to support students, emerging scholars, and professionals in taking intentional action during times of transition. Whether it’s one-on-one coaching, professional development workshops, or research consulting, The Aceves Approach is here to help you move forward with confidence and clarity in your personal and professional life.